Container sealing means



April 3, 1945- G. T. DERBY CONTAINER SEALING MEANS Filed June 13, 1942 IWMIWWMIW v 620276 Dery Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED OFFICE CONTAINER. SEALING MEANS ,.Ge0, rge\- Derby, Jacksonville; Fla.

.Applica'tiorr June 13, 1942,"SerialNo.' 446;!)16

"9 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to a sealing means, but it more especiallyis, directed to a jar or other container. closure sealingmeans adapted to permit repeated use of the container.

One of theprincipal objects of this invention is the provision of a means for hermetically sealing the line of jointure between the body and closure of a jar or like container formed of glass,

. plastic, or other suitable material.

recess, and locking meanscoacting witlrsaid ele-' -ment to lock the latter insealing po'sition,"said locking means being removable and replaceable. With these and other-objectsin view, which will become apparent as the, description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawingy'in which like characters of referenceindicatelike=-parts throughout the sever'alfigurespof which':

Fig. 1 is a top'planyiewof'a sealedcontainer.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2'2-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on'the line 3+3of Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.-2-of a'modified form. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspectiveviewof the removable locking means and resilient sealingelement of Fig. 4 in disassembled relation. The means for sealing glass. and other like filled containers has been attended with more 45 or less difiiculty, usuallyrequiring asealing substance necessitating heating toefiect the seal,

:and other sealing means often rendering it'necessary to damage the top or cover thereby preventing repeated use of the containeniand it was to overcome such deficienciesand to'providea sealing means comprisinga complementally formed portion in the meeting edges of; the" container and top. forming;when the covenis tin placesaz' recess adapted to receivea'resilient:elementzandzmeans 55 "mounted; the inwardly.-projecting edgesof. recess in connection therewith for compressingly coacting with said element to effect the seal'and-m'aintain the same in sealin position, and admitting of easy removal, that I designed the sealing means forming the .subject matter of this. invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is'shown a glass jar-or container I formed adjacent to its upper edge-with an. interior rim or thickened portion 2 formed with'a shoulder or lateral-flanget on which is adapted'toseat a glass top or closure 4, the exposed surface of'which is in the same plane as the upper edge of the container.

"Formed'in the'meeting edges of the container rim 2 and closure'4 are the complemental cut-out portions 5'and 6, respectively',-each havinga'comcave or curved'wall portion'l, said complemental cut out portions forming'when the closure isoperativ'ely positioned, an annular recessfladapted to receive a rubber or gumgasket like sealing element 9 overlying the joint line iii-and extending to the'upper edges of walls I. Positioned in said recess 8 on the element 9 is'a lockin :means: H comprising the wire rings '12 and intermediate wedgeiwire ring orspreader member I3 formed with'the'ring receiving concave walls Madapted by. thei'expansion' of'element- 9' to maintain said rings'and locking assembly in-locked and-locking position. Said ring i3 is'of a length so that its ends-for a slight open space l5. One of said endsis under cut or beveled'as at: 16 and the other end-vertical as at ll'which dorms'a 'fulcrumfor the barrorthe like I 8 when inserted under the end 56 to'reifect removal "of" the locking means, as directlyrwill more fullyappear.

"Toiapplythe locking means and-seal the container it is only necessary =to-place the resilient element 9"in recess8and then place the wires 1 2 40 on said element and the-wedge-like wire 1 3 therebetween. The resilience-of -element -9 permits wire 13 to" be forced down compressing element '9 again'st'thebottom and side walls of recess 8 and tends to maintain the'wires 12 in the. ring retaining concave seats I and i 4, completely. seal- "ingthe 'joint' 10; and permits the removal oi-ring or spreader member l3 -by a bar or otherrelement "1 8, which releases the remaining. rings. anderesilient-"element for ready removal. 1 t will like- "wisebeapparent that the above construction and coacting arrangement: of: parts, not only effects a removablesealingtmeans, :but :a1s0-:a container top or-' cove attachingand. locking. -means,: since when the-wire or lockingassembly is operlatively 8 constitute retaining or locking means, and prevent detachment of removal of the top. The container may be refilled and the sealing assembly replaced in sealing position, as in the first instance. It will thus be apparent that by virtue of my improved construction and sealing means, repeated use of the container is effected. Also, while, in the present instance, the container is constructed of glass, it, together with the components of the sealing means, may be constructed of suitable materials other than those herein described, such as composition materials, plastics, etc., without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention embodying a somewhat simplified sealing means, comprising a container Ia formed with a rim or thickened portion 2a, having a lateral flange or shoulder 3a on which is adapted to seat I a glass top or closure 4a, similar to the like features shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4 the recess 8a is formed by the complemental cut out portions 5a and 60., respectively, each formed with a curved wall surface la, and which together form the continuous curved wall surface of the recess 8a. Adapted to be positioned in the recess 8a is a rubber or other resilient sealing element 9a bridging or overlying the joint Illa. The resilient gasketor ring-like element 9a. is normally, in cross sectional area, of the shape shown in Fig. 5, the thickened edge portions 19 being connected by a thin central portion or web 20.

The resilient sealin element 90, is positioned in the recess 8a similarto element 9. In this form the locking means comprises only one wire or other suitable ring 12a, which is similar in shape to ring I2, except that it is severed and its ends formed similar to ring [3, as'at l6 and I1, and in operation it corresponds to ring [3 as an expanding and compressing locking means. In this form, when the element 9a is in place in the recess 8a, the ring 12a is placed on portion 20 of element 9a and when force is applied thereto in compressing direction the edges l9 are forced upwardly and said element assumes the shape and position shown in Fig. 4 with the ring l2a embedded therein in locked and locking position, completely sealing said container and securing the top thereon until manually removed, as will be clear from the preceding description.

From the above it will be apparent that I have designed a container structure and sealing means for effecting the sealing of containers effectively without requiring heat, sealing compounds, and the like, the sealing operation being easily and quickly accomplished, permitting ready and rapid removal of the sealing means and top, yet simple in construction, manufacturable at a negligible cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details 01" construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or. sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1'. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a jar closure member comprising in combination a jar and a closure member supportingly seated within the jar, the meeting surfaces of the jar and closure formed with complemental cut-out portions having bottom and concaved side wall portions and forming a circumferential recess, said wall portions terminating in inwardly projecting spaced free retaining edges, a resilient sealing element in the recess and a locking ring assembly seating in said resilient element and expandingly coacting with said side walls and bottom to cause said element to assume the contour of and sealingly engage said side walls, re-

taining edges and bottom of the recess to lock said closure and hermetically seal the jar.

2. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a jar closure member comprising in combination a jar and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the jar and closure being cut-out to form a circumferential recess having concaved side walls terminatin in inwardly projecting free retaining edges, a resilient sealing element in the recess, and an annular locking means seating in and compressing said resilient element into the contour of and in sealing engagement with said side walls and edges to hermetically seal and lock the closure in the jar.

3. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions to form a circumferential recess having arcuate walls terminating in inwardly extending free retaining edges, a sealing element of yieldable material within the recess, a locking ring means adapted to be pressed into conforming relation with said yieldable material causing it to assume the contour of and bindingly engage said walls and retaining edges to hermetically seal and lock the closure with respect to said ar. a

4. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions to form a circumferential recess having curved side walls with inwardly extending free retaining edges facing each other, a resilient member within the recess, an expandible annulus embedible in the resilient member, said annulus when expanded causing the member to assume the contour of and sealingly engage said side walls and edges to lock the closure and hermetically seal the jar.

5. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the'neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions having spaced inwardly projecting free retaining edges and forming a means and the inner walls of the recess and when so pressed into sealing engagement with the latter said edges retaining said means against displacement, whereby locking of the closure and the hermetical sealing of the jar is effected.

6. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly '7. A locking and hermetically sealing assem- I bly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions to form a circumferential recess having arcuate side walls, a sealing element of yieldable material in said recess, a pair of rings and an intermediate spreader member wedged between the rings, the wedging action of the spreader member separating the rings and causing them to compress the resilient material until it assumes the contour of and sealing engagement with the side walls of said recess to lock the closure and hermetically seal the jar.

8. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions to form a circumferential recess having arcuate side walls, a resilient member in said recess, a ring assembly comprising a pair of rings and an intermediate spreader member wedged between the rings, the wedging action of the spreader member separating the rings and causing them to compress the resilient member until it assumes the contour of and sealingly engages the inner wall surfaces of the recess, the expansive qualities of said resilient member maintaining said assembly in locking position to lock the closure and hermetically seal the jar, and means in connection with said spreader member to effect its disengagement from said rings.

9. A locking and hermetically sealing assembly for a closure member Within the neck of a jar comprising in combination the neck and a closure member in abutting relation supportingly seated therein, the abutting surfaces of the neck and closure member being formed with complemental cut-out portions to form a circumferentia1 recess having arcuate side walls, a sealing element of yieldable material in said recess, a ring assembly comprising a pair of rings and an intermediate spreader member wedged be tween the rings and having its opposite side walls conforming to the contour of the contacting surfaces of said rings, the wedging action'of said spreader member forcing the rings in opposite directions and causing them to compress the resilient material until it assumes the contour of and sealing engagement with the side walls of said recess, the inherent expansion of said re-' silient material maintaining said assembly in locking position to lock the closure, and hermetically seal the jar, and means in connection 0 with said spreader member to efiect its removal.

GEORGE T. DERBY. 

